Dana White Talks Shields Vs. Ellenberger At UFC Fight Night 25

The UFC officially announced last week that UFC Fight Night Live: Battle on the Bayou will take place on Saturday, Sept. 17 from the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, LA. The event will be headlined by a welterweight clash between top contenders Jake Shields and Jake Ellenberger.

“Jake Shields has fought some of the best guys in the sport and he wants to prove that he deserves another shot at the title,” UFC President Dana White said. “But Jake Ellenberger has won his last four fights and wants to knock off a top contender like Shields. Shields has phenomenal jiu-jitsu, but Ellenberger thinks he can overpower him in the Octagon. This should be a great main event for the Battle on the Bayou.”

A winner of 15 out of his last 16 fights, Jake Shields has defeated a long list of worthy contenders, including Carlos Condit, Dan Henderson, Jason Miller and Paul Daley. After suffering his first loss in over five years to Georges St-Pierre in April, the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu ace returns to the Octagon in September poised to make another significant run, and better yet, snap the winning streak of his fast-rising opponent.

With stoppage victories in three out of his last four wins, Jake Ellenberger is quickly emerging as a potential contender in the deep 170-pound division. Known for his high-level wrestling and heavy hands, the 26-year-old is as confident as ever that the career-defining win he’s been seeking will come on Sept. 17.

Two winners of recent seasons of The Ultimate Fighter will also be in action as season 11 winner Court McGee battles talented South Korean middleweight Dongi Yang, while season 12 winner Jonathan Brookins takes on surging featherweight Erik Koch. Plus, the event will mark the return of Alan “The Talent” Belcher as he begins a quest toward the middleweight title when he meets gifted Canadian submission artist Jason MacDonald.

UFC Fight Night Live: Battle on the Bayou takes place on September 17, 2011 from the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana and will be broadcast live on Spike TV at 9 p.m. ET/PT.